Lilly Maxis Strike was a Corporal in the U.S Marines, she loved her work, it was hard, kept her in shape but during her last deployment however she ended up blown out of her nest, and now she's stuck as a mean green filly.
After being blown up, Lilly wakes up as a cartoon filly, knowing she was lucky enough to be given a new life, Lilly will need to navigate her way through this new world. Much to her annoyance they still treat her like a child. She just hopes the rest of her squad made it out. All she wants in her new life is a little respect from those around her. Maybe she should just let herself live the childhood she never got.
"CONTACT IN THE TOWER!" The rough voice of Lilly's NCO stated over the radio, looking through the LPVO on her M38 she swept the windows looking for confirmed contacts.
"No joy through the windows," Lilly said, going over a second time she spotted an RPG that was just being discharged at her, "Sh-" Was all she got out before the blast hit the edge of the wall in front of her.
"O-okay," Lilly breathed out wiping the tears from her eyes and spitting the remaining vomit out, "I don't know where I am, I'm no longer human, and I wasted a bunch of energy with my," she quickly looked around the forest floor, "Panic attack," she said under her breath. Lilly looked over her new body taking in the small cartoonish frame of a pony along with flexing her new wings a little. dragging herself over to her kit, she slowly rolled her cammies, clipped her helmet to the side of the carrier, and slipped into it resting the rolled jacket and pants on her back for cushioning unable to find her ruck she decided to find food and shelter as soon as she could. "Pick a direction, and keep to it," She said and slowly made her way west, using a mantra to stay motivated. Moving through the pain she continued her rhyme, "And I'll reply with a whole lotta anger... blood and guts and a little bit o' danger," she spit out through gritted teeth, PT!, EVERY DAY, EVERY WAY, GOOD FOR ME, GOOD FOR YOU! she yelled out forgetting she was in unknown territory.
The snapping of a branch pulled her out of her cadence, searching the area she quickly spotted a pair of green orbs studying her. Lilly stared the orbs down as she passed them, she quickly backed her way out where she was hoping to avoid activating the beast's instincts. Her leg painfully dragged underneath her as she stared down the beast, soon though she bumped into a solid rough object, she heard growling above her and felt a wet substance soak her hair, looking up she saw the maw of a predator, "MOTHER FU-!" She managed to get out before diving to the side and rolling down an incline. She soon found herself, struggling to keep her head above the rolling waves of the rapids she was in.
She couldn't see through the bright filtered light and when what little fight she had left her caused her vision to dim around the edges of the red that floated to the surface with the slowing of air bubbles.
Pinkie quickly dragged the filly towards the hospital, this was just horrible how could a filly end up like that and she had the weirdest saddlebags. As Pinkie pushed open the doors she quickly looked around, "I NEED A LITTLE HELP HERE!" she yelled quickly getting the attention of several doctors and nurses who rushed over and took the filly away towards the operating theater. Pinkie anxiously paced in the lobby, "What if I wasn't fast enough what if that poor filly is laden with a horrible disability and nightmares for the rest of her life!" Pinkie speedily yelled out much to the chagrin of the nurses stationed at the front desk.
When Doctor Greymare entered the lobby he scanned it his vision settling on the hyperventilating form of the party pony, "Pinkie good, now before you say anything, the filly is fine, her left hind leg was dislocated and the deepest cut on her body wasn't too severe, except her eyes will need to be covered for some time," he informed her taking quick stock of her relieved features, "Now to the hard questions, Do you know this filly or any family of hers?" Pinkie shook her head, "Okay, how about her saddlebags? Or the fabric underneath them?"
"Sorry, doctor, I don't know anything about those, except that they're really heavy," Pinkie said, "and why do her eyes need to be covered up?" Pinkie asked tilting her head.
"Her corneas were badly scratched, we've cast the healing spells on her eyes but she will be blinded for some time," Greymare told her, "Now as far as we can tell, her name is Enfield, it's at least what it says on her saddlebags, although Redheart says it seems more like armor," he said, "She's currently keeping an eye on the filly, please come to my office so I can get more information," Greymare told Pinkie walking down the hall with Pinkie happily bouncing behind him.
Redheart sat next to the filly, keeping a close eye on the EKG and physically checking her pulse, when she suddenly began to stir, "Hey there can you hear me," The filly's head didn't shift but her muzzle twisted into a grimace.
Lilly kept her mouth shut as she felt a strange feeling on the top of her head, "Enfield, my name is Redheart, I'm a nurse and I need you to tell me where your parents are?" Redheart asked, feeling nervous due to the filly's stiff body language, "Enfield, can you hear me?" her question was answered by the swiveling of her ears. With a sigh, Redheart stood up and left to get the fillies lunch.
Walking down the expansive hallway she spotted Greymare, "Doctor, the filly in room 311, she doesn't seem interested in talking," she told him, Greymare gave a dismissive look to her before going back to his chart, "We need a social worker down here, she didn't say a thing," she stated with a hint of worry tracing her words.
"Nurse Redheart, I have put her information in a first-class letter to the Royal Censor Bureau, we do not need to call a social worker, her parents will be found soon," he told her walking away. With a huff, Redheart continued her mission to the cafeteria.
Stepping into the fillies room the first thing she noticed was the asystole rhythm on her monitor, dropping the tray she called a code blue and ran to the bedside. Coming to a screeching halt when she saw the loose leads and no filly.
Pinkie walked down the street deep in thought, the doctor was suddenly rushed out of his office by the nurse and she was sent home. And of course, you had this filly 'and the doozy pinkie sense ended when I found her what was that all about,' Pinkie thought to herself with a roll of her eyes and head. She continued her musings as she entered Sugar Cube Corner.
"Pinkie dear where have you been?" Mrs. Cake asked worriedly looking at her employee and tenet.
"So, I was doing my Saturday HIT and four-mile run, you know to burn off all of the sweets and then I felt like a doozy was coming up," Pinkie started, "and then I saw these bubbles coming from the lake and I thought 'that's really weird, the fish should be upstream' so I looked closer and there was this filly laying at the bottom, so I dived in and pulled her up and then took her to the hospital, and her saddlebags were really heavy like someone filled them up with metal," When Pinkies words finally registered with Mrs. Cake her eyes widened, "Well the doctor came out a little while later and told me that's she's going to be fine, just a few injuries here and there, also when I found her the doozy stopped." with Pinkies last words on the subject, she headed up to her room leaving a confused, relieved Mrs. Cake.
Redheart ran down the halls in a panic, searching for the filly. Turning the corner, she dug into the dirty clothes hoping the filly would be found within, when no tufts of blue coat nor black and pink mane her breathes became ragged, "Oh no, no, no," she murmured, nearly tearing the hospital apart.
Lilly moved quietly, her small body maneuvering where she could as the bang of a pipe resounded around her, "Lilly where are you?" her father's voice bounced off the walls, biting her lip to keep quiet she shrunk down, and listened to her father's footsteps as they passed her, she patiently waited for a few minutes before deciding to move again. "You've failed again, you know what that means," her father said grabbing her arm and lifting her.
"Enfield, it's Nurse Redheart, I'd really like it if you went back to bed," Redheart said when she finally found her in the boiler room, placing her hoof on the fillies shoulder she recoiled as the filly began to scream.
"No dad, please I don't want to go back," she sobbed as she crawled away from Redheart, "I can do better, I just need another chance," she begged pushing herself into a corner, Redheart took a seat and simply waited for the filly to tire herself out.
"Enfield, you can't run away like that," Redheart told the filly as she tucked her in, "I know it's scary, but if you help us, we can help you," She told her in an attempt to console her, "If you tell us what your father has done we can protect you," the filly grimaced at her words.
"I don't need protection," Lilly stated, shifting onto her side, "He died a long time ago, and I'm happy, didn't even go to the funeral, I volunteered to stay in the field," she told her, Redheart took a step back not sure how to process what she heard.
Taking her leave she looked at her fellow nurse as she passed by, "Sour Grapes mind keeping an eye on her while I request a social worker?" she asked, Nurse Grapes, nodded her head and stepped into the filly's room. Redheart took her break and made her way to the post office, pulling out the necessary bits she paid for a dragonfire letter to be sent. Stepping back into the hospital she clocked back in and made her way to room 311.
"Hello, I'm sorry for running, I had a moment of weakness," Lilly stated as Redheart rounded the corner, Sour Grapes smiled at Redheart and left the room giving a goodbye to the filly, "Being blinded as I am brought up some bad memories," her voice wavered slightly.
"It's okay Enfield, I understand, Nurse Grapes seems to like you," Redheart told Enfield, "She doesn't like a lot of ponies," Redheart took note of the frown that built on her face as she flexed the wings on her back, "But she makes it very obvious if she doesn't like you so don't you worry," Enfield's frown didn't change.
"I forgot-" Enfield started before cutting herself off, "I forgot she was busy with other patients, tell her I'm sorry," Redheart patted her shoulder, before stepping out to continue her rounds.
The next week was slow, the Social worker did what she could, but Enfield wasn't very forthcoming with information just some mentions about a squad in the desert, The RCB couldn't find any missing fillies that matched Enfield's description or name, they even sent out agents to make sure none were missing. After they finished there they tried checking in with E.U.P elements that operated in the desert, no luck there either.
Slowly they removed the wrappings around Enfield's eyes, "Now we're going to slowly brighten the lights so you can adjust," Redheart told her as the last of the gauze was removed, "Now open your eyes so we can start," she said, slowly Enfield's eyes opened Redheart was taken aback by the two different colors she had, "I didn't know you had heterochromia, I mean two different colored eyes," she stated, taking stock of her confused features as they began to turn the lights up.
"I don't, both of my eyes are blue," Lilly said.
"I'll check with some optometrists, for magic-based eye color change," Redheart told the filly while checking her eyes for signs of infection, "and it looks like you're all healthy, we just need to see what Sunny Meadows has to say then we can get you homed," she told her with a smile.
Lilly was allowed to use the bathroom herself when her eyes finished adjusting and she stared into the mirror, "I guess it makes sense my right eye is red," she mumbled admiring her new red and brass-colored eyes, along with her new hair, "I'm kind of cute," she told herself, spreading her wings she looked herself over, "All right, deep down I'm still mean and green, and maybe I can be a fly girl too," she announced, a little louder than she intended with a wide grin on her face and a flap of her new wings. Stepping out with a strut in her step she noticed her gear on a chair at the end of the table, going over she began picking through it looking for what equipment she still had, She noticed her flashbangs and her m45a1 along with the spare magazine she carried. Looking down at her hooves and back at her sidearm, she frowned, "Son of a bi-" she began before a ball crashed through her window, jumping she dived underneath the chair and covered her head, keeping her legs towards the ball.
"YOU FILLIES NEED TO BE CAREFUL!" Redheart yelled out the window, "Are you okay, Enfield?" she asked placing a hoof on the filly, listening to her deep breaths Lilly slowly pushed herself from her cover.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine, just got startled is all," Lilly informed her going back to inspecting her gear, she noticed her plate carrier and cammies might actually fit her and her knife was gone, "Weird," she muttered, pulling her coat over her chest before struggling to button it, hearing giggling she looked at Redheart who began to help her button her coat and finish getting dressed, "This is embarrassing," she told Redheart finished pulling the last strap of her plate carrier tight.
"Well, sometimes a filly needs help," she told her while looking over her clothes to make sure nothing was out of place, "I thought it was armor and not a saddlebag," Redheart said grabbing her hoof and leading her out of my room, "what kind of armor is it?" she asked the filly
"It's a level IV ceramic plate, in a fabric plate carrier," Lilly told her, "Although I'm pretty sure the plate was fractured from my tumble," Lilly said adjusting the fragments in her vest, with a nod Redheart just hummed a cadence that was familiar to the filly as it matched perfectly with the clacking of her helmet as it bounced.
"C-130 rolling down the strip," Lilly began to sing, with a smile from Redheart she didn't feel too weird doing so, "Recon daddy gonna take a little trip, stand up, hook up, and shuffle to the door," Lilly head and back straightened, "Jump right out and shout MARINE CORP!" She pulled away from Redheart's hoof and shifted into a march, thinking about how easy this new body was for her, "If my main don't open wide, I got another by my side," she was about to finish when she stepped on a spill having not noticed the wet floor sign, she quickly went sliding down the hall at an alarming speed, flapping her wings in an effort slow down she began to breathe heavily as she hit a mop that had fallen as a janitor jumped out of her way. With a yelp, she went flying landing on a gurney that quickly careened out of control barely missing doctors and nurses as it shakily rumbled down the halls. Her impromptu ride ended when the gurney hit a corner and sent her flying through the air, spreading her wings hoping to not hit the windows at the lobby, her body curved in the air and deposited her into the front desk nurse's lap.
Redheart was terrified when she saw where Enfield had landed, but Sour Grapes didn't seem the least bit annoyed, "Nurse Sour Grapes, I am so sorry she slipped and it just snowballed from there," Redheart explained.
"Oh it's fine, I'm about to go on my break should the three of us get lunch?" Sour Grapes asked to the clear surprise of Redheart and Enfield, "Come on, I'm sure the cafeteria has some great food," she said placing Enfield down and getting out of her seat, before she had a chance to cross the desk however a group of construction workers pushed through the door carrying another pony blood flowing from his leg as he moaned in pain they placed him on the ground and begged for help, Redheart didn't get the chance to cover Enfield's eyes as the filly had already placed herself next to the stallions bleeding leg and pulled at a pouch on her vest.
"You idiots didn't apply pressure to his wound or even try to tourniquet it," the ponies took an offended step back as she said this, "He has real good fu-" before she finished blood squirted from the wound and hit Lilly in the face some getting into her mouth and eye, spitting out a glob of blood she placed a bandage on the wound before frowning, "I must be getting censored," she muttered, "anyways he has a better chance of dying due to your lack of first aid," she told them as Sour Grapes took over applying pressure and several doctors helped the pony onto a gurney.
"Oh no, we need to get you tested," Redheart said picking the filly up and taking her to an eyewash station, "This will hur-" she stopped as Enfield placed a hoof on the faucet and began to wash her eyes out without fuss, "You really aren't a normal filly are you?" she asked as she watched the filly gargling some of the water and spitting a little more blood out.
"I'm not a filly at all, I'm a grown woman that can take care of herself," she pointedly told the nurse, "It's not that I don't appreciate your help, especially with my height issue, but I've seen and done a lot, " Lilly jumped out of Redhearts legs and looked up at her, "Where are you going to take my blood?" she asked, Redheart gave a nod as told the filly to follow her. Taking her to a small room Redheart quickly drew the filly's blood and sent it off for a test.
Shortly after the sample was sent out, Redheart scooped the filly up and invited Sour Grapes to town for lunch, where Enfield explained in detail how she would take care of herself, "We understand you can take care of yourself," Redheart and Sour Grapes said in unison, "But as a young filly you can't live alone," Redheart continued as they ate their lunch. Lilly grunted as she chewed the salad in her mouth, at least it was fresh.
"But, I'm not a filly," Lilly groaned swallowing, "I'm a U.S marine, I died by getting blown up, and woke up in a forest as a filly," Sour Grapes and Redheart shared a look between themselves, "YOU SAW IT ON MY UNIFORM!" she yelled, slamming her hooves on the table.
"We understand that," Sour Grapes told Enfield, "but that doesn't change how bureaucracy works, you're going to have to follow the rules," defeatedly Enfield lay her head on the table and mumbled an okay as her ears turned towards an approaching commotion.
"WINONA WHAT DO YA GOT?! GET OVER HERE!" A woman with a western accent yelled as her hoof beats became louder.
"Bureaucracy is a bi-," Lilly started as a loud bang resounded through the area and her salad bowl shattered, the bang was followed by a yelp and barking. Shooting to her hooves and reaching for her M45, Lilly rolled behind a fence post and peeked around, she quickly spotted the rifle on the ground several ponies keeping their distance from it, looking for the shooter she remembered she didn't have hands, stepping out into the open and towards the rifle she lowered her head inspecting it, noticing it was hers she lowered her head to fit the strap over her body.
"What do ya think you're doing young lady?!" That western accent yelled from just out of Lilly's field of view, "That thing is dangerous," Rolling her eyes Lilly looked at the mare, taking stock of her orange coat and cowboy hat.
"It's mine it got lost when I woke up in the woods," she told the mare, flicking the safety on, "and now it shouldn't go off again," after finishing her statement Lilly got a foreleg through the shoulder strap and tightened it down to sit snugly against her barrel.
Redheart quickly ran over to the fuming mare, "Applejack she's a patient, a lot has happened to her, I also have no reason to believe that thing she has is dangerous with her, okay?" Applejack huffed before nodding and leaving, "I think it's best if we leave," Redheart said, with a nod, Sour Grapes placed some bits on the table and quickly made their way to the hospital.
"What is that thing?!" Sour Grapes practically screamed at Enfield who was brushing the surface of her rifle who frowned at Grapes comment, "the noise it made and what happened to the plate?" Redheart patted her on the back as her breathing slowed.
"This thing," Lilly snapped, "is Roza an M38 designated marksman rifle, and she was my lifeline in the field," tears started to form in the corner of her eyes, "and now she's my last friend from my world," Lilly dropped the magazine and instinctually went to grab the charging handle to clear it, without thinking she gripped and ejected the cartridge from the chamber. Lilly blinked several times looking between her hoof and the cartridge rolling to a stop next to her magazine, "I-I can use my hooves as hands," she said, reaching across her barrel she gripped her M45 feeling a strange force connected to her hooves, using what felt like a thumb she released the hood on her holster smiling she resecured her sidearm, "I feel really good now, I can still use both my girls!" she exclaimed picking up her magazine and loose round quickly inserting it back in.
"I'm sorry am I interrupting?" a stallion asked stepping through the door, "A family recently moved from Stalliongrad who already have a foster daughter but are willing to adopt another, and I was wondering if Enfield would be okay with meeting them," Enfield smiled and nodded.
"I thought you could take care of yourself?" Redheart said with a grin, as Sour Grapes left in a huff at her questions being ignored.
"Hey, if you can't fight the bureaucrats, be wallpaper," Lilly said securing her rifle on her and stepping towards the door.
"Now Enfield, this family is a little strange," the stallion told her as they walked down the street, "your foster parents will be a Pegasus and a griffin, is that okay?" he asked, happy when Enfield nodded.
"What happened to the other social worker?" Lilly asked looking at the roofs and windows of the town with a critical eye, her curious actions not going unnoticed.
"She wasn't making any progress with you so she went back to Canterlot and asked me to come down and take over the final proceedings," he informed her as they exited the market, "what are you looking for?" he kindly asked, looking down at a notebook in his hoof.
"Nothing, just a habit of mine," she told him, he was about to say something but Lilly quickly cut him off, "It's harmless and I'll stop when I'm used to the area," that seemed to be the end of the conversation as they quietly walked the streets of Ponyville.
Lilly noticed the nice two-story house they walked up to had a shingled roof unlike the thatched ones surrounding it, "Wealthy family or recently built house?" she asked as he knocked on the door.
"Recently built house, upper-middle-class," he told her as a tall Pegasus mare opened the door.
"Oh, you must be Light Path," her heavily accented voice told the stallion. Enfield's ears flicked recognizing the sound of the mare's voice, "and you must be little Enfield, I was told you were a unique one!" she chirped out with a broad smile.
"Actually it's Lilly, Enfield's my callsign," Lilly said, with a smile as the mare waved them in, as they stepped in Lilly took stock of the mare's features, she was beige with a ruby mane and lighter streaks of fur across her legs and the sides of her body.
"Well then Lilly, my name is Arctiidae most ponies just call me Moth though," she told the pair leading them to her living room "and this is my beautiful jeweler of a wife Sabine," she sing-songed, as a griffin rounded the corner, adjusting a tie around the chick's neck Moth wrapped her forelegs and wings around her.
The griffin stiffened up before very gently trying to pull herself out of her wife's grip, not without causing the mare to quickly grimace as her left-wing recoiled and shot back to her side, "Mothy, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to agitate your wing, but I love you and I want to meet and talk with Enfield, But I have an interview and I can't be late," she told the mare giving her a kiss and heading out of the house.
"She seems nice," Lilly said taking a seat on the floor, "is there something wrong with your wing?" the filly asked looking at the mare's now slightly twitching wing.
"just an old injury from when I was a filly," Moth said trying to relax the muscles with her hooves, "Do you mind if I ask a few questions to get to know you better?" Moth asked, unable to fully stop the twitching.
"Sure what would you like to know?" Lilly said looking over her potential caretaker's body.
"Well, I guess I'd like to know, why you let your 'callsign' be listed as your real name?" Moth asked taking a seat on a cushion of the unfinished couch.
"Just what I've been called for the last year and a half, well that and Strike," Lilly told the mare who cocked her head, "Right I should explain, my full name is Lilly Maxis Strike," the mare smiled.
"Well that's a beautiful name, now I understand you had a... hard life, just know that if you ever need to talk that your whole family will be there to listen," she stated with a firm gentle voice.
"I can handle my own problems, I'm trained for it," Lilly huffed out folding her forelegs, "I-I don't mean to be rude, it's just that I don't think a lot of people will understand," she sheepishly said.
"Of course, no creature could possibly have had an experience like your Lilly," Moth told her, causing Lilly's wing to twitch.
"You, know I think I'd prefer if you just called me Enfield," Enfield told the mare, "it just makes me feel, wanted, I guess?" she said trying to look anywhere but at Moth or Light Path.
"Sure thing Enfield, it's not a problem," Moth cooed wrapping her good wing around Enfield, "If you want we can do a little trial run to see if you feel comfortable with us?" she told the filly, who nodded her head, "Great the first things we did when we got to town was set up all of the bedrooms," Moth said leading the filly up the stairs with Light Path right behind them. The two rooms Moth showed off were fairly plain, "I know they're plain but they are guest bedrooms, for now, and anything you need you can tell us and we'll see what we can do," Moth told the filly grabbing her hoof and placing it against the bedding, "Soft isn't it?" she excitedly asked.
"Stupid child body," Enfield huffed out having attempted to arm lock and restrain Moth when she had grabbed her hoof but was unable to due to her size and weight. "Th-that's really soft, I've never felt softer blankets in my whole life," Enfield said starting to relax before leaning forward and rubbing the side of her face on the blanket, "O-oh baby~, I'd have traded a Prussia Blue to have had this in my barracks," Enfield softly sighed out, "I'd be especially happy to stay for a few days, just let me get the rest of my stuff from the hospital," she told the mare, reluctantly leaving the soft fabric.
After a couple of hours, tracking down her knife in the hospital, Enfield made her way to her potentially temporary home and closed the door to her temporary room, leaning her rifle against the wall next to her bed, she slowly worked off her plate carrier before removing her m45 and inspecting it for damage, "So much to do so little time," she muttered before, satisfied at the lack of rust, holstered it. Making her way down the stairs she turned into the kitchen, "Need some help Miss. Moth?" she asked standing at attention.
"Yes, in the icebox there is a bag of fruits and vegetables, and under the counter closest to the icebox could you get me three sweet potatoes," Moth gently instructed, getting to work Enfield quickly grabbed the items, putting the potatoes in the bag, and presented them to the mare, "Thank you, Enfield, can you put them on the cutting board?" she asked.
Looking up at the counter Enfield steadied her nerves and started to flap her wings, she let out an internal sigh as she got lifted. Getting a head's height over the cutting board she reached out her hooves to put down the bag, the sudden shift in weight caused the filly to lose her balance and tip forward hitting her head on the cutting board and knocking it to the floor.
"ENFIELD!" Moth worriedly screamed.
Enfield ran around the corner before diving underneath a pile of cushions, "I'm sorry, it was an accident please don't hurt me!" she whined as Moth pulled her out of the pile.
"Hurt you? I'd never do such a thing," Moth told the filly as she swaddled Enfield with her wings, the filly struggled to take deep breathes as cried into the mare's withers, "let me look at you~" she cooed lifting her head with a hoof and looking over her features, "you didn't get hurt did you?" She asked, getting a head shake from the filly, "just scared huh?" a nod confirmed her suspicions, "Ok sit here and wait while I finish cooking," Moth told the filly, placing her down on one of the couch cushions and heading back to the kitchen to finish cooking.
"W-what is wrong with me?" Enfield quietly choked out, "I'm a marine, not a baby," she told herself, "I-I haven't acted like that in years," soon she zoned out stuck in her mind thinking back to her father, gritting her teeth she lightly struck her self in what would have been her thigh, the dull pain bringing her back as she took a deep breath.
"MOM! WE'RE HOME!" a young voice called out as the door opened before it was closed as the form of a filly rounded the corner, her eyes widened as she looked at the filly on the couch a large smile crossed her face as she ran up to Enfield who quickly jumped back and lowered herself into a fighting stance with her wings flared out, causing the new filly to stop and cock her head, "Umm, hi I'm Night Fox," the filly said introducing herself "what are you doing?" she asked before trying to mimic Enfield's stance flaring out her own bat-like wings, "Is it a new way to make friends?" she asked her smile returning in full.
Enfield slowly straightened her stance, "Um, Hi Night, I'm Enfield," Enfield slowly walked up to her, "Uh sorry about that, you startled me," she told her while rubbing the back of her head, "I'm going to be staying with you for a few nights, stay out of my room please," Enfield nervously stated, Night looked at her and nodded.
"Ok Enfield I'll stay out of your room," Night Fox proudly stated, "as long as you promise to come into my fort!~" she shouted grabbing Enfield's hoof and trying to lead her towards the stairs before she was pushed away to the side, Enfield jumping back breathing heavily, Night Fox looked at Enfield with some tears in her eyes, "Do, do you not want to come into my fort?"
Enfield had a very sudden feeling of guilt fall into her stomach, "N-no it's not that, I-I just don't like being touched so suddenly," she reassured the filly picking her up, "Want to show me your fort?" she asked, the bat's smile returning the tears being forgotten.
"Of course follow me!" she said leading them upstairs and to a room with a drawing of the family on the front door a rainbow above them, "It's in here," she told her opening the door.
"I'm a little worried about having Enfield around Night," Sabine said, walking up to her wife, "Night went to show her the fort, and Enfield pushed her," she told the mare grabbing a knife and helping her cut the vegetables, "I was going to step in but Enfield apologized and said she didn't like being suddenly touched, not a very pony thing," Moth hummed as she listened.
"She tried to do something similar to me when I showed her one of the rooms, I grabbed her hoof and she tried to break out, good form too," Moth told the hen, "I think she just needs some time to adjust, Light Path had told me right before they left to pick her stuff up from the hospital, that they think her father abused her and to be gentle and understanding of any lash outs she might have," the hen stiffened before sighing.
"Well if anypony could help her adjust it'd be you, you wonderful mare~," Sabine said giving a kiss to the mare's cheek, getting a giggle in return, "Well, I'm going to go upstairs and make sure there isn't a mutiny going on in the mighty blanket fort," Sabine stated before heading up the stairs.
Enfield uncomfortably fidgeted as Night Fox excitedly showed her toys and plushies, giving little backstories to them, "What's your favorite toy?" She asked.
"I never had any toys before, my dad didn't believe in them, thought they made you soft," Enfield told getting a surprise hug, she was unable to break out of as her forelegs were pinned to her sides, "Hey get off of me," she demanded, starting to take deep breathes.
"I'm sorry for hugging you without asking, and that your dad was such meanie." Night Fox said, Enfield, chuckled.
"Meanie's a bit nice, he was a real bas-" Enfield was about to state before the door flung open and Sabine hit the ground letting out a short-lived yelp as Enfield's wings flared and she fell back, Night Fox quickly rushed over to her other mom.
"Ow, what did I trip on?" Sabine questioned looking back and seeing nothing behind her, "You two playing nice?" she asked as Night futilely attempted to help her up.
"I was telling Enfield all about my plushies and toys, and then she told me her dad didn't let her have any toys, and then I spooked her with a hug." Night Fox told the hen.
"Nopony got hurt, Other than me of course?" Sabine asked standing back up Night Fox shook her head side to side, "Well, that's good I just came up to make sure, oh right dinner should be ready in a little bit." Sabine said heading back down the stairs.
"She's a voracious one isn't she," Sabine stated leaning forward and using a pair of tongs got more food that she put on Enfield's plate, Enfield choked out a thank you before eating some more. The rest of dinner went by fairly quickly most of it was Night Fox talking about how great her first day went, even though there were a couple of fillies who were really mean.
After dinner Enfield climbed into the bed and let the soft sheets and blankets envelop her, closing her eyes she quickly drifted off to sleep.
Talkin' to my daddy on his dying bed,
Enfield looked around not entirely sure where she was before she recognized the Arabic woman next to her, "I find the Lee Enfield to be a perfectly suitable rifle for the current conflict," The woman said adjusting her vest as she walked with Enfield towards the shooting range, "even if it is a bastardized rechambered for .308 model," she said, "Want to trade girlfriends for a few rounds?" she asked chuckling as they stepped up to firing line.
"She is a beauty," Enfield said, "You'll treat Roza with the respect a high-class girl like her deserves right?" she teasingly asked, getting a nod in return she handed her m38 over to the woman who handed her own Lee Enfield to her, "So Rana, what's the wager, I outshoot you using your own rifle you get me some of those extra creamy chocolates from beyond the wire, and if Roza betrays me I get you some of my private reserve?" Enfield offered up.
"Sounds like a deal to me, Strike," Rana said taking her hand and giving it a firm shake. They took up their supported positions and took aim, just before they took their first shots a mortar landed downrange, getting knocked back they slowly coughed, they each thanked the headsets they had on before getting up, the siren wasn't blaring, they quickly ran for cover as the first rounds started to whizz past them, shouldering the M38 and peeking around the corner of the water jug they concealed themselves behind, a single round cracked off, "Wager still on?" Rana asked turning back around.
Chuckling Strike shouldered the Enfield rifle, "Doesn't seem very fair, you have 20 more rounds than I do," Strike said peeking around and firing after a few seconds of tracking a fighter, "But I guess I'll just have to get fancy," she stated watching the two fighters collapse to the ground, "Also collateral."
Rana smiled "Good shot, but you need to take out more than 20 to beat me," she said pulling off the MOLLE pouch from her vest, "Here's the ammo," Ranna offered, smiling Strike removed her ruck so she could more easily get to her mag pouch before something landed on the ground at their feet.
"GRENADE!" Strike yelled throwing her ruck and body on top of the frag as Rana turned fell to the ground covering her head, the blast scared Rana as she rolled overlooking the curled form of Strike.
"Corporal, Corporal are you alright?" She worriedly asked crawling over and turning her over, she was relieved as she heard the whine escaping the American's lips, "You're alive at least, they'll be checking for our deaths we have to move," she said lifting up the American and shouldering the M38.
Steadying herself Strike shouldered the Enfield rifle, "My dad used to hit harder than that frag," she spits out before wiping some of the blood from her lips, "Let's move," she stated grabbing the MOLLE pouch of .308s. They quickly peeked around and engaged the fighters approaching them, creating a gap for them to run towards the MRAPS, "We need to make it towards the center of the FOB," Strike said, trying to find a way in the truck.
"I think we need to run on foot," Rana informed Strike as she fired off three more rounds hitting another fighter, "Also bet off, we make it out of here alive and we both get what we want?" Rana asked her voice starting to waver, "Because, I'm scared Strike," she said.
Rana and Strike engaged in short sprints and engagements as they fought towards the center of the base, "I need a mag," Rana said dropping the empty magazine onto the ground, Strike nodded and reached to pull out a fresh mag.
"Shit," she said pulling out a mangled chunk of metal from her ripped pouch, she quickly checked the other, "They're fucked Rana, take your rifle back," Strike said grabbing her knife.
"Laa, you keep it, your pistol got FUBAR'D by the frag too," Rana said drawing her own sidearm, "You know, I'd have loved to have had an Enfield revolver too, but I got stuck with the Webley instead," she chuckled trying to keep up her spirits in their dire situation.
"Tell you what, when we get out of here, and you get to come to America, I'll find and buy you an Enfield revolver to complete your collection," Strike said firing off another round and ejecting her last round before forcing another five into the magazine, "Now let's move," she stated before they began another sprint, a scream caused Strike to turn around, Rana was on the ground her pants leg quickly staining with red.
Enfield woke with a start tears streaming down her face.
It was the perfect time in the morning for Enfield, before the hens and roosters rose, she jumped off her bed, landing with a roll, rotating her neck she loosened her muscles as she began her morning yoga routine she sighed as the knots that had formed in her back from the lack of movement slowly unraveled. Soon she began doing pushups, fighting the desire to cry.
It was only an hour later when her door was gently opened, "Enfield it's time to get up," Moth called out walking to the bed she froze, the bed was empty. Moth shook her wife up, "Sabine, Enfield's gone I-I checked her room and she wasn't there, w-was I too hard on her?" She rambled to Sabine who grumbled rubbing her eyes.
"Did you check downstairs or the bathroom? Sabine groggily asked, getting out of their shared bed heading to the hall, "I'll check downstairs you check the bathroom," she yawned out walking downstairs.
"Did you find her?" Moth asked heading down the stairs, only to see Sabine shaking her head worry now having infected her, "D-did we do something to make her want to run away after only one night?" She asked her wing spasming, her breaths become quick. Suddenly the front door opened and Enfield walked through huffing.
"Morning," Enfield said heading towards the stairs before she was swept up in a hug.
"Ashkur alshams, you're back whatever we did to make you run away we're so sorry and promise to never do it again," Moth apologized nuzzling the filly's hair.
"Runaway, I didn't run away," Enfield said, trying to pull herself out of the hug, "I went out for a run, that's why my fur is wet," slowly she was put down as Moth thought about what was said to her.
"That's a relief, she's just fit," Sabine said chuckling and going into the kitchen, "I'm gonna start breakfast, something full of energy for the little marathon runner," she called out over the clashing of pans.
"Why did you thank the sun?" Enfield asked Moth, noticing the white stripes that covered her legs also covered her barrel and back.
"It's a habit of mine ever since I became a citizen of Equestria, I thank Princess Celestia for the good things that happen," Moth said leading Enfield back upstairs, "and I neither thank nor curse anything for the bad," she told her opening the door to the bathroom, "You get washed up, while I wake Night up and make sure she's ready for school," she said starting to close the door, "so excited for your first day, good luck," Moth stated walking away.
"Uh-huh, thanks," Enfield called out removing her coat and pants and turning on the shower, "Wait school!?" she called out.
Enfield sat at the table grumbling as she rolled her sleeves, "Stop whining and eat your food," Sabine said picking at her own food.
"If you're going to make me go to school, can I at least have some of your fish?" Enfield asked the ponies and griffin around her stopping what they were doing, "What? You're forcing me to go to school, despite the fact I've had enough schooling for two lifetimes, so show me a little bit of respect and give me enough protein, and nutrients to support my active lifestyle," she bargained.
Sabine smiled and cut her fish in half, placing the piece on Enfield's plate, "Moth sweetheart, can we keep her?" she teasingly asked as the filly smiled biting into the fish and letting out a satisfied sigh, "I think I'm going to have to buy extra fish now," Moth simply shook her head in disbelief.
Night Fox giddily walked with Enfield towards the schoolhouse, "So how did the fish taste?" she asked, "because I was always curious because mom eats it and sometimes mom asks for a taste, she says it gives her a taste of her childhood, but I was too nervous to ask because most ponies don't eat fish," Night finished, "also why do you wear those clothes?"
Enfield took a deep breath, "The fish was good I'm looking forward to having more and I wear my uniform because I feel more comfortable in it," she told her potential sister as they approached the schoolhouse where the rest of the kids were waiting for their teacher. it only took a few minutes of waiting around for the teacher to come down the road and open the door, letting the students file in.
"Okay now everypony we have another new student," The mare said, "If you'd please come up, I'm Ms. Cheerilee, please introduce yourself to the class and tell us a little about yourself," Cheerilee told Enfield.
With a sigh Enfield walked up and turned to face the class, "Hi, I'm Lilly Maxis Strike, please call me Strike or Enfield, I will not respond to Lilly, I don't have a dad and I have heterochromia apparently, I woke up in the hospital after falling down a hill and almost drowning, and I'm currently staying with Mrs. Sabine and Moth for a little," Enfield said heading back towards the desk she had picked next to Night Fox, ignoring the shocked looks on the fillies and colts faces.
"Ahem, well now Lil, I mean Miss. Strike, that was quite the compact introduction," Cheerilee uncomfortably said, "Well, our first lesson is basic multiplication," Enfield sat with a bored look on her face, answering the questions when none of the other ponies would raise their hooves, even as they went through the other classes, Enfield didn't particularly mind if she was right or wrong she just wanted to be done, soon they were let out for recess.
Night Fox was trying to convince Enfield to join her in playing a game of tag when a pair of pink and grey fillies approached them, "Looking at you I can see why your daddy left you, I wouldn't hang around," The pink filly said, Enfield, glanced over her shoulder before going back to Night Fox, "I guess she's hard of hearing too," the grey one said giggling.
"Leave her alone Diamond Tiara," Night Fox said her voice wavering a little.
"Oh, and what is the vampony going to do about it, suck our blood?" Diamond Tiara teasingly asked feigning fear, causing tears to pull at the edges of Night Fox's eyes as her cheeks puffed out and a frustrated blush covered her face, she quickly calmed down when Enfield put a hoof on her shoulder.
"Go and play with the fillies and colts deserving of your attention, my leg's still a little sore from this morning," Enfield said as she walked over to a tree and laid underneath it, closing her eyes.
"Oh not even going to give us the time of day?" Diamond Tiara asked rolling Enfield over onto her back, Enfield opened her eyes and shook her head, "Well that's rude, you should always listen to your betters," the pink filly said, "After all you'll be working for me pretty soon teacher's pet," Diamond said kicking some dirt into Enfield's face.
Enfield coughed up the dirt and rubbed some out of her face, "Now that was rude, you," Enfield started before stopping herself, "What's the rudest thing I could call you?" Enfield asked out loud, "Milk drinker?" she unsurely said, "That's stupid, milk drinker what am I thinking, why do I even care what you say or do, you're just a spoiled little girl," Enfield said looking up and laughing, her eye quickly catching something in the branches of the tree.
"I AM NOT SPOILED!" Diamond Tiara screamed.
"Yeah, yeah whatever," Enfield said holding her hoof up to the filly's muzzle, "I go something to do," she said as she heard Cherilee call out to the students to come back in. Enfield ignored her and began to climb the tree.
"Ms. Strike what are you doing? I told the class recess was over," Cherilee called out, Enfield ignored her continuing climb before choosing a branch and precariously balancing it as she headed towards what was clearly becoming a pair of tan saddlebags, "Ms. Strike you are going to get hurt you need to come down now," Cherilee demanded.
"Give me a sec," Enfield grunted out as she almost lost her balance, getting closer to it she saw the saddlebags had U.S marines stamped on the sides, "Oh fu-," she started to say before the branch snapped behind her causing her to hit the ground, "Why universe," she whined, "I'm a marine I can't stop swearing," she tried to reason with the air. Getting back to her hooves she slipped underneath the saddlebags a wide smile on her face, "Sorry about that but this is mine and I wanted to get it back," Enfield said walking back to the schoolhouse.
Cherilee watched as the filly fell and quickly jumped to her feet with a smile on her face. Shaking her head she went back to her class and continued her lessons, as the day waned to an end she called out to Night Fox and Enfield, "Do you two mind staying a little bit longer, Night Fox your mom said she'd be picking you two up today," Night Fox yelled out an okay and jumped back to her desk and quickly pulled out a piece of paper and started to draw.
Enfield shrugged and looked over her new saddlebags, they had three external pockets on each of the main pockets, smiling Enfield looked through the external pockets quickly finding the lighter Rana had given her, running her hoof over the surface Enfield felt a single tear pull at her eye and land on the shined surface as she remembered the night she had given it to her, "Enfield are you ok, you're crying," she heard Moth ask sitting next to her.
"Just a good memory of a friend I won't be seeing again," Enfield choked out looking through the next pocket and finding her cigar case, "The next one is for you Rana," she whispered out, "and a little bit for me," she said laughing as she held the case close to her barrel, Moth got back up and moved over to Cherilee.
"How was her first day?" Moth asked, shifting nervously, "She didn't hit anypony did she?" Moth suddenly blurted out.
"No she didn't hit anypony, but it was a little bit of a rough start, she isn't the most... excitable filly, in fact, she seemed bored throughout most of the class," Cheerilee said, "she also didn't want to play with the other foals," she told Moth before lowering her voice, "I also think one of the other fillies was picking on her, I wouldn't worry too much about it, she doesn't seem bothered by it," Cherilee assured the mother.
"O-okay, so I'll just take them back home and ask a few questions," Moth said assuring herself more than anything, quickly helping Enfield tighten her saddlebags before ushering the fillies back to their house. Moth opened the door and looked upon a dejected Sabine, "Kids go play upstairs," Moth the fillies before walking up to her wife, "What happened sweetheart?"
"I didn't get the job," Sabine sighed out wiping a few tears from her eyes, "Some stupid stallion with a sapphire as his cutiemark got the job," she spit, "Because 'jewelry is his special talent', and 'jewelry isn't a mares job anyhow' buncha malarkey," Sabine mockingly said.
Wrapping a wing around her wife Moth held her close, "You know you don't need to work so hard to get a job, my stipend will cover all four of us," Moth told her nuzzling the hen's plume.
Sabine slowly pulled herself out of the embrace, "Well, I feel like I do, you, you are this amazing mare who has been through stuff that could break a griffin!" Sabine snapped tears forming in her eyes as Moth recoiled, "I feel insignificant next to you when I can't even pull in a few extra bits to buy extra little toys or snacks for Night Fox, and what about toys for Enfield if she decides she wants to stay with us, huh?" the griffin stated with a bit more aggression than she really meant.
"You don't have to worry about toys for me," Enfield said stepping down the stairs, "I don't mind, never had 'em before why would I need them now?" she asked stepping up to Sabine, "and so what you didn't get the job?" the filly said stepping in front of the hen, "you going to sit and mope around? Or are you going to get a different job and make them regret not hiring you, which is it, catbird?" Enfield asked pushing enough confidence, aggression, and intimidation through her voice; that back on earth a drill instructor looked up from his paper and a single tear of joy rolled down his face as he smiled.
Sabine looked down at the filly about to reprimand her for talking to her that way before stopping and thinking on the words, "You're right I want to bring some extra bits into my house, I should do so," Sabine said starting to get hyped, "All I need is some gems, metal, and a little forge," she started to ramble, "and I can make my own jewelry I can do custom requests, and you can be Tartarus sure I'll get it exactly how my customer wants it," she stated walking into the kitchen, "NOW WHAT DO WE WANT FOR DINNER!?" she called out before the clanking of pans could be heard.
Moth looked over and gave a grateful smile to Enfield, "That was very nice to inspire her like that," she told her before frowning, "but it was really mean to call her a catbird, you shouldn't do that," Moth pointedly told the filly.
"I'm sorry, insults is how my trainer got us to focus in basic," Enfield said before giving a shrug, "It worked didn't it?" she cheekily asked getting a shake of the head from Moth. Dinner was a fun ordeal even for Enfield who was quietly dreading going back to school in the morning.
"So Ms. Cheerilee said you might have been picked on at school today?" Moth asked, "What was it about?" she continued as Enfield started to cough up some water.
"She was making fun of me for not having dad and I think she called me ugly too? Enfield said, "I didn't really mind, then Night Fox got involved telling her to leave me alone," she continued, "and she went right after how she looked," Enfield told Moth, "I told Night Fox to go play with the other foals, and just ignored the spoiled brat, not my first rodeo with a bully," Enfield finished as she ate the last few pieces of salad she had. "May I be excused, I'd like to get to bed early, don't want to worry you when I go out for my morning run again," she said getting off her chair and heading up the stairs.
Enfield settled back into her bed and drifted off to sleep.
"Rana, don't worry I got you," Strike said sliding next to her best friend and grabbing the loop on the back of her plate carrier, "Just don't miss, alright," she told the woman starting to drag her behind a wall, doing her best to ignore the bullet cracking past her. Getting in position behind the wall Strike quickly grabbed the IFAK off of Rana's carrier and removed the tourniquet, "You aren't dying today because you're going to come to America and we're going to die on some fucking idealistic porch at the same time while bitching about our husbands who both happened to be gay," she said with tears in her eyes as she tightened the tourniquet around her upper thigh, "And then in heaven we'll spend all day together just shooting the shit about all the crazy things we got up to when we were 97, like drifting a semi-truck," Strike started to become incoherent between her sobs. Suddenly Rana's hand shot up and pushed Strike to the side before she fired a round hitting an enemy combatant in the head.
"You can't get rid of me that easily," Rana said holding her revolver steady, "Now let's get to that safe zone, and me to a medic," she commanded Strike nodded and grabbed the pull loop and started to drag her, it didn't take too much longer to get to 'safe' zone as Strike doubled timed it, ignoring most of the soldiers around her. Ducking into the command building medic quickly took Rana to the side and started treating her. Strike ran to a window where the rest of her squad was holding off attacks.
"Alright Ramirez," Her NCO called out, "we're running low on ammo so only take kill shots," his voice filled Strike, "Corporal there you are, take over Wade's position so he can reload us," he commanded, with a nod Corporal Strike pulled up to Wades' spot and fired off three rounds in quick succession, felling three insurgents.
"Three K.I.A," she called out before firing off two more rounds, "make it five," she said ducking down and loading two stripper clips before slamming the bolt forward, shouldering the rifle she took a deep breath and fired off another round, "There's too many, we can't hold this position for much longer," Strike called out rapidly firing off the 9 rounds.
"Goddamn, you're killing it with that rifle," Wade said loading magazines, "maybe we should call you Enfield from now on?" he jokingly asked, Strike closed her eyes, only her fourth month of her first deployment. Suddenly the world became dark and inky.
"Such a fierce warrior," the deep voice of a woman called, "I'd like to higher your services, I could use such a powerful enforcer in my new empire," the voice stated before a mare formed in front of her.
"And who the fuck are you?" Strike asked.
"I am Nightmare Moon, the true ruler of Equestria," Nightmare said, "I've been locked in the moon for a thousand years. After I attempted to take the throne from my sister," she informed the marine.
"I'm not CIA, I don't do coups," Strike spit out, "so you can find some other fierce warrior to help you with this," she told the mare, Nightmare snarled and lunged forward opening her mouth sharp teeth and gripping Strikes face who screamed out and drew her knife, shoving it into the rib cage of the mare.
"Enfield are you okay?" Moth yelled out before letting out a screech seeing the blood that covered the filly's face.
"What happened?" Nurse Sour Grapes worriedly asked as she cleaned the blood up and checked on the bite marks.
"I-I don't know," Moth sobbed out, "S-Sabine and I were s-sleeping a-and t-then I heard Enfield scream, I ran in t-thinking it was just an n-nightmare, a-and she was bleeding s-s-so much," she stammered out while trying to catch her breath. Enfield was just letting Sour Grapes cover the wounds as she was comfortable.
"I did have a nightmare," she told the mares, "I must've scratched my face during it," Enfield said wincing as the anti-septic was applied to the last of her wounds.
"No, these are bites, from like a dog or something, was your window closed?" Sour Grapes questioned, getting a nod from Enfield, "Alright well they're pretty shallow, a few deep penetrations, a few stitches wouldn't hurt," she said poking her head out of the door and asking for some help, "Alright so we'll get you some stitches to help prevent serious scarring, anything I can get you to help you relax and why did you get dressed?" she asked, getting a huff from Enfield.
"It wasn't that bad didn't feel the need to run here naked, I've had worse, and there's nothing I'm allowed to do in a hospital," she said, "I'll do a little self-destructive care after school," she told her, thinking on the first huff of her cigar, smiling as a doctor came in and started to help Sour Grapes stitch up the few deep wounds on her cheeks.
"Oh no, you're staying home, I can already imagine what nasty things that filly will say to you with bandages all over your face," Moth said recoiling as the thread was pushed through t he filly's skin, "How are you handling this so well? I screamed when I got my first stitches, I was about your age too," she asked fairly engrossed with the only slight winces that crossed the filly's face.
"Not my first time," Enfield told her, "hell I had surgery without being put under just my knife sheaths to keep me quiet as four marines held me down so I wouldn't mess up the surgeon's work," she elaborated as they finished up the final stitches and covered them up, "Thanks Nurse Grapes, I'll try to not show back up for at least a week this time," the filly told the mare, "unless I miss seeing you too much," she said with a smirk getting a chuckle out of the nurse.
"No, not even if you miss me," Sour Grapes gently chided, "I don't want to see you hurt, now I hope, Roza was it?, I hope she's not causing trouble?" she asked as she threw her gloves away and started to wash her hooves.
"Roza will not be causing any issues, she has been cleared and the hammer dropped," Enfield informed her, "Okay Ms. Moth I'm ready to go home," the filly said jumping off the exam bed. Moth nodded gave her thanks to the hospital staff and led Enfield back home.
"So what was your nightmare about?" Moth asked as they entered the house quickly causing Enfield to scowl.
"I don't want to talk about it," Enfield firmly stated walking to her room before grabbing her lighter and cigar case, "I'll be outside," she told the mare as she stepped outside just as the sun started to rise, "Nightmare Moon?" she mumbled under breath, taking a cigarillo into her mouth and bringing her lighter up she ignited her cigarillo and quickly allowed her mouth to be filled with the smoke, rolling it and thinking back to the calm night watches with Rana by her side as they joked about small things, "I hope you're okay," Enfield said puffing out her smoke a tear rolling down her face.
Moth looked out the window, about to do something about the filly smoking, but stopped herself as she felt a claw on her shoulder, "She smokes?" Sabine asked, getting a nod from Moth, "I'll go tell her she can't do that and take her cigarettes," the hen said heading towards the front door.
"Don't," Moth said sighing, "I recognize the look in her eyes," she said walking up to Sabine and leading her to the couch, "Back from home, some of the other rebels would have the exact same look when they had just a simple pleasure," using a wing to wipe a tear from her eye Moth continued, "I think not only did her father hit her, I think she was a child soldier, she mentioned having to have surgery without anesthetic and being held down during it," Sabine sighed running her claws over her face.
"That explains her independence and why she doesn't want to talk to us about anything," Sabine said looking back over to the window and seeing Enfield walk past it and start down the road, "She wandering again, I'll go keep her company, make sure she doesn't get hurt," she said walking out and opening the front door, quickly catching up to Enfield, "Hey, other than the hospital visit, good morning so far?" she asked the filly, getting a grunt and shrug of the shoulder in return as more smoke pours from the filly's mouth, "you know Moth and I don't like the idea of you smoking," Sabine said hoping to gently pass on that it wasn't okay.
"Don't care what you think about it, I rarely smoke as is and after these last few weeks I've earned one," Enfield said as she focused on the flavor and her walk. Other ponies were waking up by this time stepping outside of their homes and with curious eyes watched the filly and griffin that walked down the road, ignoring their stares Enfield continued walking down the road keeping a keen eye on the store signs, "you know my best friend gave me my lighter," Enfield stated quickly getting the attention of Sabine, "We were on night patrol once, and she watched me fail to get my cigarillo lit for about half an hour, she laughed the whole time as the wind kept blowing out my matches," she said tears filling her eyes, "I can still hear her voice, 'clearly a sign from Allah, to quit killing yourself with those," she weakly mimed, "and I told her, 'I'll defy Allah like I defy death, she laughed again and snatched it from my mouth and just played keep away from me," the filly started to shake as she cried stopping and sitting down.
"You don't have to tell me this," Sabine said taking a seat and extending a wing towards the filly, who happily took up a spot closer to the griffin who loosely wrapped her wing around her.
"No, I do," Enfield choked out, "you know we didn't even know each for a month before we decided we were besties, we both showed up at the same base around the same time, and just sort of clicked," her tears flowed heavily as she removed the half-smoked cigarillo and dropped it to the ground snuffing out the embers with her hoof, "I don't even like those all that much, they just helped me relax, so I only smoked once a month maybe twice depending what was going on," Enfield stood back up, "Now enough feeling bad for me," she said wiping her face, "I want to go to the library," with a somber nod Sabine stood up and kept the filly company.
The two made their way through town looking for the library, coming up to a tree Enfield marveled at the design, "The architecture is amazing it looks just like a real tree," she remarked running her hoof against the surface. "Perfectly stained and I think friction locked for the outside," she said not noticing Sabine laughing behind her claw.
"E-Enfield," Sabine wheezed out, "i-it's a real tree," she continued unable to hold in her laughter, "Let's just go in and find what you're looking for," she said coughing to regain her composure at the annoyed look Enfield gave her. "I'm sorry for laughing, it wasn't nice," she told the filly looking away.
"No need to apologize, if anything we're even for what I said yesterday," Enfield stated walking up and reaching up to grab the door handle, stretching her body to reach it before pulling it down and opening the door, "Let's just find what I'm trying to research," she said walking in almost bumping into another pony.
"Oh I'm sorry, we don't normally have ponies coming in this early," a light purple mare said creating more space for Enfield and Sabine to get in, "I'm Twilight Sparkle, current librarian and personal student of Princess Celestia," Twilight introduced herself, "Oh but just because I know the princess you don't have to treat me any different than you would any other pony," she said with a smile.
"Good, I wasn't planning on it," Enfield told her with a cold look, "anyways I'm looking to do research on..." she said trailing off while mumbling under her breath, "uhh, Nightmare Moon?" she nervously asked, not expecting a serious answer.
"Okay follow me please," Twilight said leading the filly to a small selection of books and pulling one down, before Enfield stopped and looked at the magic section with a frown, "Don't be let down because you're a pegasus, everypony can benefit from learning about magic," she cheerfully said, "and not to brag but I'm a pretty good mage, so if you want to learn and little and need some help you can always ask me for help if I'm here," she told the filly putting the book on the table.
"Thanks, but I'm not too interested right now in learning about magic," Enfield told her taking a seat in the reading area and skimming the book, trying to match anything from her dream to this supposed Nightmare Moon.
Twilight watched the filly as she poured over the book with increasing frustration, "Can I get one not meant for children? I'm doing actual research here!" she yelled out, gently putting the book down.
Shaking her head Twilight walked over, "Sorry but the only mentions of Nightmare Moon you'll find are in fairy tales, but if this is for an important project I might be able to get an expert to come to town," she told her, "Now shouldn't a filly your age be in class?" Twilight asked.
"Ms. Moth said I could stay home today, doesn't want me getting bullied with the bandages on my face," Enfield said, "I don't really care, after all, it builds character," she said before shaking her head, "Sorry that was my father, he always told me it builds character and makes you stronger," getting to her hooves Enfield moved to magic section and began to look over the titles, "Twilight, Oneiromancy, that means like dream magic, right?" she asked pulling at a book.
"Oh, yes it does, good catch," Twilight said trotting over and using her magic to get the book down, "Oneiromancy allows you to travel into other ponies' dreams, of course, it's also a really difficult school of magic, this is just an information book on the things possible, you need to score pretty high on the exams in all categories to even be considered to take the class," Twilight rambled, "I scored well, but failed the stress test," she told Enfield, "Now, even though you seem smart if you haven't been through a few classes you need to learn the history first," Twilight stated opening the book, "I'll just be over there if you need some help, some of these words are pretty big," Enfield rolled her eyes at Twilight's eyes and started to read. Walking over the griffon Twilight sighed, "So are you her mom?" she asked.
"Not yet, my wife and I are thinking about adopting her, I was a little on the fence about it when she met our other daughter," Sabine said, "But they seem to have gotten along pretty well, even if Enfield isn't much of a let's play games sort of filly," she told the librarian, "Also before you ask where she got the name Enfield, she asked us to call her that instead of Lilly, which is her real name," the griffon said chuckling as she ruffled her wings.
"Well, I wouldn't worry lots of ponies prefer to go by nicknames," Twilight said, Sabine shook her head, "something to worry about?" she nervously asked.
"Like I said she doesn't play and gave us a scare yesterday morning, she had gone outside really early and went for a run," Sabine explained, "and she's a little abrasive, has a real thing for speaking her mind." she said lightly laughing.
"Ms. Twilight," Enfield yelled out waving her over, Twilight gave Sabine a polite nod and walked over to see what the filly needed help with, "It says here that in theory, it's possible for particularly powerful oneiromancers to affect the waking world, how strong would one need to be?" the filly asked.
"Well, I'd say as powerful as a princess, even then it probably wouldn't be half as strong of an effect as in the dream realm," Twilight said, "Magic is dependent on a lot of factors to be effective, most unicorns don't go past levitation and a few specialties spells connected to their talent." she further explained, Enfield nodded closing the book yawning.
"Thank you Ms. Twilight," the filly said standing up, "Sabine I think I've done the research I need, I'd like to go home." she said walking towards the door Sabine shrugged and followed her outside.
"So, oneiromancy what's with the interest in that huh?" Sabine asked walking down the edge.
"Something about my nightmare," she told her, "just interested in all possibilities, window wasn't open and I'd like to know how I got bit, if it was an animal we need to take care of that issue before Fox get's hurt," Enfield said flexing her wings "if not, then it's magic or I have really bad PTSS and stabbed myself in the face-" she said trailing, "I need to check my knife." she said speeding up her walk towards the house.
Running inside and upstairs Enfield drew her knife and checked it for any blood stains, before looking in her sheath and checking her vest, "Ahh no, it better be a large bat or rat in the walls!" she yelled kicking her bed, walking over to the wall and tapping it, listening for skittering, "Don't be magic, don't be magic." she muttered starting to become frustrated and stabbing at the wall. Sabine and Moth came upstairs about an hour later to hear her sobbing, looking into the room they saw her hunched and there were holes in the walls.
"Are you okay Enfield?" Moth asked walking over to her and putting a hoof on the filly's shoulder, "why did you stab the wall, sweetie?" she questioned lowering to her side.
"It's magic, not rats in the wall," she sobbed, "how do I fight magic, I can't shoot it, I can't stab it, it's slightly hard air," she complained, "I'll kill that demon!" she shouted shoving her knife into the wall and tearing off her bandages, "Tear her limb from limb!" Moth took a step back as Enfield kept on removing her knife and stabbing it back into the wall.
"Enfield calm down," Sabine said walking over and taking Moth's place, "I SAID CALM DOWN ENFIELD!" she screamed pulling the knife out of her hoof, "What is wrong?" she asked holding her close.
"M-my nightmare I-I was back in Bahrain and then Nightmare Moon w-was there and she bit me and I woke up with bite marks on my face," she whined shaking, "a-and I don't know why I can't control my emotions, as well as I, used to." she stuttered between her sobs.
"Hey, hey it's okay," Sabine said leaning into her and wrapping her wing around her, "how about to keep that nasty demon away, I stay with you tonight?" she asked getting a slow nod from the filly, "Okay I'll be with you the whole night, and how about we take a nap right now, you must be tired." Sabine said picking up the filly and laying in the bed with her.
Enfield wasn't sure where she was but she could see the desert camo on her arms as she dragged herself across the snow covered forest floor, not being able to control her actions or the deep seated fear she felt, her ragged breaths suddenly stopping as she pulled snow over herself something large, furred, two handed forelegs, and canines or cats paws for it's rear legs, it stalked past unable to smell her due to the bullet that had torn through it's nose, implanted in it's brow, three other bullet holes dripped ruby blood into the snow. It's form soon left her vision, as it chased the snapping of a branch in the distance.
Enfield got up just as Night Fox came home from school, she walked to the bathroom breathing heavily, and looked into the mirror, eyes bloodshot, and shivering, she was cold and wet, "Why?" she questioned turning on the shower for warmth, stripping she climbed in, "Where was I, I never served in the woods?" she loudly questioned herself scrubbing her body, trying to feel clean. As she climbed out and patted herself dry she rolled her shoulder and walked out, brushing her mane back.
"Hey feeling better?" Sabine asked looking down at the filly.
"I'm not angry anymore if that's what your asking, just really exhausted," she said, before looking up, "I woke up freezing, and soaking wet, was my bed wet too?" she asked heading down the stairs.
"Yeah, I wasn't going to mention anything I can only imagine how rough this all is for you," Sabine gently said, "I just took your sheets and blanket downstairs to get washed." she said walking into the bathroom and turning on the water.
"It's just sweat!" she called out over the running water. "I hope," she mumbled reaching the bottom and seeing Moth playing along with Night and her dolls, "Ms. Moth, I'd like to apologize for my outburst earlier, it was uncalled for and I damaged your walls without good reason." she apologized, Moth stood up and swooped up the marine.
"Although I'm upset about the walls, I'm happy that you seem better," she said nuzzling the filly, "and repairing the walls won't be too much of an issue nor too expensive, and your apology is greatly appreciated." she told her putting her on the couch and giving her a nod before going back to playing with Fox.
"I should be punished," Enfield said causing Moth to stiffen, "I made a mistake I reacted inappropriately, especially to people who have been nothing but kind to me," she continued, "at least have me do the repairs to the wall, I know how to do it, I'll even paint all the rocks out front." she offered climbing down and looked out the window to see the lack of rocks in the yard.
"You don't need to be punished, you just need to feel safe," Moth said not getting up this time and getting an over-the-shoulder look from Enfield, sighing, "but if you really feel like making it up to us, you can help Sabine patch the wall." she relented lifting up the royal guard doll and making a swooping motion with it.
"Mom, that's a unicorn he can't fly," Night Fox complained, "he should stay here," she instructed putting her mom's foreleg to the ground, "and then he shoots spells at the bad guys," she said, "and then they can be arrested so they can become good guys." she cheerfully said.
"Easier to just kill them," Enfield said causing Moth to cover her daughters' ears, "I'm just saying, rehabilitation is hard, and if you're needing to stun someone there's not going to be an easy way to rehab them," she explained, "I just put three to four rounds in someone instead of trying to arrest them unless we had direct orders to bag them for the spooks." she told her before Moth stood up and grabbed her leg dragging her into the kitchen.
"I understand, I was a child soldier too," she firmly told her, "but you will not talk about your experiences in Saddle Arabia around Night Fox are we understood?" she questioned pressing her against the wall, getting a nod from Enfield, "good, now if you want to talk about it I am here, I understand, I saw horrible things as well." she said a lot more quietly pulling her into a hug.
"I was never in Saddle Arabia," Enfield said before her eyes widened, "Holy shi-" she started a cabinet falling down cutting her off, looking over to it before looking back to Moth, "This whole world must be a weird parallel to my own," she said, "I wasn't a child soldier, I'm in my early 20's, I was a marine a designated marksman," she explained, "I'm not a child, although I never did have a loving family." she quietly said leaning into the hug.
"Well, this is awkward." Moth said not knowing what to do except hold her tighter.
"Wait you were a child soldier, I killed people who made children fight for them," Enfield grimaced, "thankfully never had to shoot a kid myself, but I heard stories from snipers and other DM's that had to; they had a lot more trouble sleeping than me," she said.
"I was a rebel, rebelling against our government, they forced children into mines and killed anyone who dared to speak out," Moth said twisting so she could more comfortably hold the fi-mare, "There weren't too many adults left willing to fight, so while in the mines I killed a guard and led my fellow slaves out." she parted onto Enfield, "I haven't even told a rock this stuff, only Sabine knows, but I haven't told her everything," she softly said, "I still wake up in a cold sweat some nights, it's why my wing is injured couldn't get it properly treated in the field," Moth took a deep shaky breath, "maybe we can try to help each other, share war stories see if just talking can help us sleep better?" she asked tears running down her eyes.
"Yeah, I, I think I'd like that." Enfield said starting to cry as well.
"Are you two okay?" Night Fox called out walking over, "Why are you crying?" she asked laying down next to them.
"It-It's nothing baby," Moth said unwrapping her leg and pulling Fox in, "Sometimes you get really stressed holding all sorts of things in and you just need to cry." she said kissing the forehead of her daughter, Night Fox nodded and crawled in closer to the two ponies.
Sabine came into the room just the three were standing up, Enfield and Moth wiping their eyes of tears. The griffins eyes scanned the room before settling on the fallen cabinet, "Oh by the crown, did you get hurt?" she asked getting next to us getting a shake of her head, "I'm sorry I thought I properly put that up, I'll check the other ones to make sure they're stable." she said helping Moth get all the way up.
"No, Enfield and I just had a big breakthrough, we have an understanding now," Moth said hugging her wife, "We're going to be staying up later and having talks about our shared experiences." she told her with a nod, motioning for Enfield and Fox to leave.
The next few months leading up to winter break were simple between Enfield helping with the walls and cabinet. Along with Moth and Enfield sharing stories of their time in their respective sandboxes, Moth talking how her part in toppling the government and then fighting the new government which was somehow worse got her extracted, as Equestria engaged in a swift fight with them, she was given a stipend for her desire to see peace and freedom for her people. Enfield even became closer with Night Fox, joining her in a few pretend games with her dolls.
"So we're heading north to Vacation in a nice resort, at the request of the Princess," Sabine said getting an eyeroll from Moth as they boarded the train in their jackets Enfield already taking off her saddlebags, vest, and undoing the zipper on her jacket, "So I hope we can expect you two to behave?" she asked, Enfield gave a quick light salute, Night Fox imitating her before she pulled her sister into a hug.
"This is going to be so fun!" she squealed tightly holding onto Enfield, "Oh we should learn how to ski together, wouldn't that be fun?" she asked letting go and hopping on the trains bench.
"Sure, wouldn't hurt to add another skill to my repository," she said putting her hoof on the stewardess', "I'd rather keep my stuff at the base of the seat please." she firmly stated, the mare looked over to Moth who gave a nod and the stewardess left. The next few hours were spent with a game between them as night approached.
"If you need you can take the bed," Sabine offered opening, getting a shake of the head Enfield stretched out and closed her eyes, slowly drifting off to sleep.
"There you are," a strained voice called out, "I have spent two months searching for a host," looking around Enfield lay her eyes on the dripping form of Nightmare Moon, "I won't even take control I swear," she said pain filling each word, "I just need somepony to absorb magic through so I can forge my own body." Enfield took a step back noticing she was human again and drew her pistol.
"I'm not interested in any Goa'uld host taking bullshit," she said, "I haven't seen you in months, so I know the nightmares aren't your fault, I'm just sick." she firmly stated flicking the safety off her pistol.
"Please I can protect you from the nightmares," she said, "I don't want to die, you are the only pony who isn't shielded from my presence," she begged, "I can offer you other things, a way home perhaps? I will place the best researchers on it when I'm in control." she offered need in her eyes as Enfield's breath hitched and she pulled her pistol into a compressed ready.
Enfield stretched and looked at her thankfully dry body, running her hoof across her face she inspected it almost expecting blood to cover her hoof. Gripping her head she sat up and opened her pack and searched through it quickly finding her toothbrush she walked to the restroom and cleaned herself up, splashing some water on her face she breathed out, "God, I hope I made the right choice," she groaned, 'Do not worry filly-mare, you did,' the voice embedded in her head stated, 'the headaches will subside, I just need to get settled within,' she said, "Alright just don't go rooting around my memories of being an out of control teenager," she demanded, 'oh do not worry I already got a glimpse, of that lust filled nightmare I have no intention to delve deeper, what causes someone to dive so deep into depravity for their first time?' the voice questioned. "Daddy issues." Enfield stated stepping out of the bathroom and walking out towards her family.
"Hey there Enfield," Moth said getting a slight grimace, "What would you like for breakfast?" she asked getting a nod from the filly, a tired Night Fox slowly smacking on some cereal. Enfield had to bite her tongue to not yell at her to close her mouth.
A quiet yelp filled Enfield's head 'Perhaps I can help with those emotional outbursts, as well, you know I can feel your pain right,' the voice stated, "sounds perfect to me," Enfield grumbled out swallowing the blood in her mouth, "something cold, maybe fruit please." she mumbled, but didn't have to wait long.
"It's going to be pretty cold out there, are you sure want this?" one of the workers asked holding the cup of chilled fruit, she got a nod from the filly as she grabbed the cup sticking her knife into one of them, quickly popping a piece of fruit in her mouth sighing as it sat against her bleeding tongue.
Slowly the blood stemmed and her headache faded, 'There we go, I have nestled myself between your amygdala and prefrontal cortex, at least that is what your brain says they are,' the voice stated, "What did I say about rooting through my memories," she hissed out, getting a side look from her parents and Night Fox, 'First you said out of control teenager memories, second, most memories are going to just hit me but I won't be able to delve in but I'll get like a flash, we can't control that,' the voice told Enfield, "fine," the filly breathed out.
"Are you talking to yourself, sweetie?" Sabine asked getting a nod from the filly, "Is it part of your recovery." She asked.
"Yeah, it helps me keep track of things and not think about other things," she said, 'If it worked that would be great, it's a mess of emotions in here, seems like you've been bottling for a while,' the voice said, Enfield dropped her knife cutting her rear leg a hiss coming from the voice, 'Sorry, I won't comment on your repressed emotions,' it said, "yeah you won't." the filly said looking into her pack for her first aid kit, quickly applying a piece of gauze against the cut.
"Are you okay?" Moth asked getting a nod and smile from Enfield, "If you say so, let me see it at least?" the mare asked Enfield removed the piece of gauze and showed the shallow wound on her leg, "Alright it's not deep at least." she told her using some of the medical tape Enfield packed.
"Thanks, Moth," she said picking her knife back up and starting to eat again, 'You don't need to answer, but I think we have an understanding, you have full control over both of our lives and I should not risk them?' Enfield tapped the flat of her knife on the cup, 'Understood,' the voice coughed out, "I keep getting shocked by how good the fruit is." Enfield said swallowing getting an off smile from Moth, Sabine shaking her head keeping out of it.
The train slowed to a crawl as they approached the resort's stop, "Alright kids time to pack up," Moth said, Enfield climbed down and threw on her jacket, and vest then tightened down her saddlebags, "Well good to see Enfield happy to go," she said looking off to the side at the sluggish form of Sabine, "Come on my other daughter, it's time to go." she said slapping her with a wing.
The family stepped off the train and walked towards the resort, Enfield looked at the trees before her breath hitched and she fell forward, by the moon what is wrong?' the voice asked, "My, my dream it was here-," she said looking at the trees, "-I can feel it," her breaths becoming rougher, "there's something in the woods, it hungers," she said reaching up for her .45, "We should get into the resort," she said, 'are you sure there's something in the woods?' the voice questioned, seeming worried, 'Because remember there's two of us in here now,' she said, Enfield, groaned, "Come on let's get inside before night falls." she said marching forward her family worriedly following.
They quickly checked in and set up their stuff, "Nice room," Enfield whistled opening the window and looking out. Using her m22s she looked out over the woods, she saw birds fly away from an area not that far and heard three cracks ring out, a roar following soon after, "I think that was a gun," Enfield said opening the door and heading down the stairs, 'That is bad right, a gun is bad, you should be the only one with one of those things,' my accessory said, 'so why are we running towards the gunfire?' she questioned watching as Enfield sprinted to the edge of the woods her m45 drawn and kept low, "Come on, come on, what is it?" she asked nobody, as Moth ran by her side.
"What is it?" she asked as they gazed out at the woods together, soon a woman came running out a rifle in one hand as she sprinted, Enfield took a hitched breath as the creature chasing made itself visible as it limply barreled through the woods.
"RANA TO THE SIDE!" she screamed causing the woman to turn and run to the side Enfield raised her m45 standing up on her rear legs and gripped with both magic hoof hands and started to fire striking the creature in the side as it began to stumble even more before tumbling to the ground. dropping her magazine she slapped in her next one and sprinted to the creature and dumped her second magazine into the creature's head, the woman walked over and shakily put a fresh stripper clip into her rifle.
"What are you?" she asked aiming at the filly, Moth quickly tackled her and tossed the rifle to the side.
"You will not hurt her, she's been through enough." she growled raising her hoof about to strike.
"Moth wait, she's in shock," Enfield said running over and looking at the Arab, "Rana, I know this is strange but it's me, Lilly, it's Corporal Strike," she told her getting an off look from the woman, "I know it's hard to believe but I got transported here too and got turned into a child," she explained hoping to get through to her, "I-I can explain, so how about I tell you something only I would know," Enfield said, "I used a m38 designated marksman rifle and I named her Roza." she told her a little recognition coming to the eyes of Rana.
"Why did you name her Roza?" Rana asked her free hand slowly gripping her backup knife.
"I named her after the world war 2 soviet sniper Roza Shanina," Enfield told her her whole body relaxed.
"You look adorable Strike," she laughed out getting a pout from Enfield, "I'm so happy to see you again, you have no idea how much I missed you." she whined out reaching her arms and wrapping them around the filly.
"Oh I have an idea, you were my best friend Rana," Enfield said laughing herself Moth looked between them before falling to her haunches, "and no you can't carry me Rana, I know what you're thinking," she told her getting a sad whine from her friend, "Alright fine." she relented getting a happy squeal from Rana as she stood up and cradled the filly pulling her in close, 'This endorphin boost is amazing,' the voice said giggling as Moth led them back to the room.
"Who is this carrying our daughter?" Sabine asked looking the woman up and down.
"This is my best friend Rana," Enfield answered, "and she's carrying me because she thinks I'm adorable-" she told Sabine and Fox, "-and because it's not really the first time she's done so." she continued with a sigh.
"It's not, we used to drink near the wire-" Rana said with a happy look in her eyes, "-and the corporal here could never know when to stop, drink herself into a stupor every Friday and I'd make sure she'd make it back to her barracks in one piece," she told them, "Although I always preferred Karak Chai."
"I-I see," Sabine said sitting back down as Night Fox ran over.
"Your clothes are different than Enfield's," she said, "And you're inside now, you can take the mask off." her cheerful and adorable demeanor caused Rana to let out another squeal.
"Ohh, she's so cute~," she said putting Enfield down and squatting down and getting closer to Night Fox, "Well, Enfield and I served in different groups, I was Bahrain Security and she was a U.S marine," Rana explained, "And my religion says women are to wear modest headwear when I joined the security forces, I swapped from a niqab to a balaclava, keeps me modest and fits better under my helmet," she explained removing her helmet and putting it down on the desk, "and thank you, corporal, for saving me, again." she said holding me close before putting me down on the bed.
'What a lovely woman, now I see why you care for her so much,' Nightmare said, "It's no sweat Rana, honestly I saw the uniform and balaclava and prayed it was you," Enfield told her undoing her vest, "I mean someone needs to buy me some absinthe and be my drinking buddy after all." she said laughing gently putting down her vest.
"Absolutely not, you might have been a grown woman before, but you are in a child's body now, I'm happy you gave up smoking-" Moth said causing Rana to enthusiastically ruffle Enfield's mane, "-but you certainly can't drink do you have any idea what that will do to your body?" she asked getting a frustrated groan and nod from Enfield.
"Yes mom," she whined dropping her head onto the mattress before looking at Rana, "Hold me," she commanded, Rana happily dropped onto the bed next to her, pulling her in, "We're drinking behind her back," she whispered into her ear getting a hum and shake of the head in return, "Traitor," she playfully spit out, 'When I rule you shall have all the absinthe you desire my host,', Nightmare triumphantly announced, "Thanks Nightmare." she grumbled out.
"Hey I know I just sort of barged in carrying a woman-child," Rana said, "But I haven't had a bed in 2 months and have been living in dug-out snow caves, hoping to wake up in the morning could I borrow a bed or a sofa?" she nervously asked, looking between the three beds.
"So, Rana huh, impressive girl, confident, dangerous," Nightmare said as she sat in a cafe with Enfield who looked around, "I've been doing some hormonal cleaning-" she quickly got a hard look from Enfield, "I live here too now, I haven't gone delving into your memories if this place is familiar It's because your subconscious designed it like this," she told her, the look Enfield was giving her softened, "Now would you like some brain juice tea?" Nightmare asked offering a cup.
With a sigh Enfield sat across from the inky mare and took a sip of the offered tea, "Karak, been a while," she said, "Wait brain juice tea?" she asked leaning forward, "The fuck does that mean?" she questioned her accusingly.
"Just that the flavors come from your memory," Nightmare told her getting a slim smile and a nod, "I wouldn't do anything to damage my host, that would be foolish," she scoffed taking a sip herself, "Ohh that is good," she said, "Now friendship, is it always soo... emotionally filling?" she asked taking another sip.
"Can be, Rana and I have a great friendship, really the only friendship I have that's super close," Enfield told her, "don't get me wrong I like Night Fox, I don't mind playing with her but I'm 23 mentally speaking and she's a child," she groaned out leaning back, "bit weird innit?" she asked blowing air through her lips.
"I mean it can be if you were trying to like have sex with her," she said, "You aren't right?" she questioned getting a shake of her head and a disgusted look from the woman, "good because I'd kill us both then being stuck in a monsters head," raising her hoof she took a sip, "This is amazing before I get you sent back I'll need a recipe for this." she praised.
"Probably tastes better than it really did, rose-colored lenses and all that," Enfield told her, "Ohh, think I could adjust where we are if I think really hard about a particular place?" she asked the mare.
"Most likely, mnemonics do influence the dreamscape quite a bit," Nightmare told her, "Just don't take us to anywhere repressed." she begged, putting her cup down.
"God no, anywhere repressed is repressed for a reason, I wouldn't put my worst enemy through that shit, let alone you," Enfield reassured her, "my childhood was a mess, why do you think I was such a perv as a teen?" she asked getting a shrug and nod in return.
"Could we be friends?" Nightmare asked, "Because I think you would be a good one to start with." she said nervously.
"Why did you come back to me for a host, why not try a different species?" Enfield asked her getting a small roll of her eyes.
"Something about how the pony body absorbs magic makes them compatible with me," She told the woman, "Can't communicate or even detect with other species, it was a miracle I could even detect you let alone speak and inhabit you, knowing that you are some hyper-intelligent lightly haired ape," she explained getting a pursed-lip look from Enfield, "No offense." she meeped out.
"A little taken," Enfield said, "So I'm guessing despite your best efforts you can't actually take control of my mind or body?" she asked getting a sleek smile from Nightmare.
"So you noticed?" she asked getting a crisp nod from Enfield, "I can't your brain is built differently, not compatible so to say," she told her, "and even if I could make it compatible the years of undealt with trauma would make me want to kill myself," she said whistling, "no offense meant again,"
"None taken there, I know I have deep-seated issues," Enfield said chuckling before she noticed Nightmare about to say something, "and no therapists, I'm handling it," a shake of the head from Nightmare Moon, "Yes I am." she said causing Nightmare to laugh, Enfield joining in not too long after.
"You really aren't handling it, not one bit," she laughed out before her head was slammed into the table a groan escaped her lips, "I see you've begun to master your mindscape, or you've become much more aggressive with me." she said seeing the glare in the marines eyes.
"I was able to bottle about 20 years of mental trauma and emotions without an outburst," Enfield told Nightmare, "You are damn right I am just being more aggressive because I have perfect fucking control over my emotions and mental state," she said standing up, "So don't you even think about trying to control me, because I will resist and have you removed from this brain." she threatened looking at the now shy form of Nightmare Moon.
"I understand, you are in control, I can't take it from you," she said letting out a deep breath, "I will not hurt you or attempt to do so after I have my own body." she said swallowing fighting her natural instinct to stand up for herself.
Enfield woke up and sighed, honestly after her talk with Nightmare Moon she felt great, "Wake up Rana, I'd like to move sometime today." she quietly commanded careful not to wake everyone else up throwing her hind leg into Rana's stomach.
"la tafeal dhalik," Rana Breathlessy said loosening her grip around Enfield, "It's so early, can't we sleep in a little?" she asked throwing her arms to the side.
"I want to get cleaned and dressed for the free breakfast covered by royalty," Enfield told her crawling out of Rana's loose grip, smacking her several times with her wings, "And before you ask they work, I just don't fly much," Enfield told her, jumping down to the floor and walking into the bathroom. Rana crawled out of the bed and leaned next to the bathroom before she heard a loud sigh, "can you help me, Rana?" Enfield called out.
"Nam," Rana said walking in looking a bit uncomfortable as the filly sat in the tub, "Why do you need help?" she asked walking over to the edge of the tub.
"The, the controls are higher than they are at home," Enfield said, "I can't reach them," she nervously told her Rana smiled and turned on the shower head before she could leave though Enfield called out again, "I hate to say this, but it's really hard to get between my wings, can you lather my back?" she asked clearly swallowing her own pride.
"Sure," Rana said lathering Enfields back, "This makes me a little uncomfortable." she told her.
"How do you think I feel," Enfield scoffed out spreading her wings and mewling, "That feels really good, really get in there." she said causing Rana to recoil her hand.
"What do you mean really get in there?" Rana asked, "Because if you mean what I think you mean, that's too weird for me." Enfield splashed her with some water.
"Not like that you perv," Enfield spit out, "I mean it was like a massage, I'm a bit tense, a lot has happened these past couple of months," she told her friend, letting out a huff she started to lather the rest of her body, "Get my wings, please?" she asked, Rana gently soaped her wings, 'Why did you call her a perv, and am I the 'a lot' that has happened?' Nightmare asked getting a groan from Enfield, "Shut up Nightmare!" she yelled out, causing Rana to fall back, "if you were the 'a lot' you be well ff- aware," she said holding her tongue as to not be forcibly censored, "so just keep your mouth shut." she told her, 'Yes ma'am,' Nightmare meekly said.
"I made a deal, if you want to get back to earth, the deal works for us both now," Enfield explained, "I just have to deal with this mare in my head while she works some stuff out," she told her, "although the only reason I made the deal was so I could be with my friend again." she said looking over her shoulder brushing her mane out of the way, getting a compassionate look from Rana.
"I see, well what about your family?" Rana asked, "Don't you want to see them again, I know you don't talk about them but still," she said taking off her shirt, "excuse me I'm going to take my shower now." she told Enfield who climbed out and started patting herself down.
"I don't talk to my family, dad abused me, mom let him, and my brother was left alone and calls me a slut every time I see him, then refuses to talk to me after that," Enfield told her starting to brush her teeth, "How about you? I know you have a family, you probably want to see them." she said spitting and using a bit of the mane product she brought to slick her hair back into an undercut.
"Not anymore, there was an earthquake the day you were killed, my family didn't survive," Rana said holding back tears as the water ran down her body, "I'm not even sure we'd be welcomed back, you were hit with an RPG and I was caught in an IED," she said, "even if we can get back we'd be arrested for desertion at the least," Rana explained turning off the water, "Mind handing me a towel and underclothes?" she asked.
"Yeah, no problem," Enfield said tossing a towel over and waiting for her to offer her hand out for her clothes, "I want to apologize for calling you a perv," she said handing over the clothes, "it's just that, we both know my orientation, and you're the first very attractive women I've met, that I didn't want to sleep with," Enfield explained leaning against the wall, "You're my friend and I've never seen you as more than that, it was just something about how we clicked, you?" she asked.
Stepping out of the shower Rana got her pants on and slipped into the dark-colored long sleeve shirt she wore, "Yeah I do, I'm sorry, it's just that at the little funeral we held for you, I heard some of the other soldiers talk about their stress relief with you," she sighed out, "and it got me thinking, then I stopped thinking about it until you talked about 'getting in there real good' and it all hit me," she said getting ready to brush her teeth, "can you forgive me?" she asked Enfield.
"Of course, I forgive you, at least it means you have a good self-image," Enfield said, "but I'm not a subtle girl, I like being forward with my advances," she explained to the woman, "I mean you weren't around but I typically just walk up to a prospective partner and tell them what I want." Enfield told Rana letting out a sigh and leaning her head back.
"Strike, it's not a problem honestly, me holding you while we slept really sort of jump-started me into thinking maybe I also led you on," Rana told her after spitting out the toothpaste, "I feel like I should apologize to you," she said getting a wave of the hoof from Enfield leading them out and grabbing her belt and service coat quickly checking her revolver, "What should I do with my rife corporal?" she asked grabbing it.
"Unload it and keep all of your ammo on you," Enfield said grabbing her jacket and looking at her vest, "Don't want Night getting her hooves on it and having an ND," she explained as Rana emptied the magazine and pocketed the bullets, "So, learn how to ski with Night and me maybe? After we get questioned about mag dumping that thing of course." Enfield said reaching into her saddle bags and pulling out her service cap, pocketing it.
"Think we'll really get questioned," Rana said, "It was an aggressive animal, that was trying to kill me, you saved me, if we are questioned we'll say that, it had been hunting me for over a month," she told the filly as the rest of her family started to wake up, "Sabah alkhayr." Rana greeted them with a nod.
"Sabah," Moth said yawning as Night Fox ran past the soldiers into the bathroom, "How are you two feeling?" she asked them, stretching her wing before wincing and pulling in her injured wing.
"Good," Rana and Enfield said together getting a giggle from the mare as they both had a similarly stiff posture even while relaxed.
"Excited for a breakfast that has been prepared two hours earlier?" Sabine asked walking up to Rana's rifle, "This isn't dangerous is it?" she asked the pair, "Because even though Enfield has something similar but black with a grip thingy on the bottom, I'm not sure it's safe to keep around Fox." she said.
"It's safe," Enfield told her, "Only dangerous weapons here are on our persons and are secured from falling out or being grabbed by curious fillies," she continued, "so don't have to worry about Fox doing something, not only that I wouldn't let something like that happen," Enfield said before laughing, "Hey Rana remember when I socked that lieutenant and the captain yelled at him for being unsafe on the range?" she asked trying the hold back her laughs.
"Nam, nam," Rana laughed out, "When I saw the Captain stomping over, I thought you were going to get it, and when he started tearing that officer a new one I was scared." the two fell against the bed and laughing with each other.
